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From Save Our Schools Hawaii
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Our Inspiration (VIDEO): http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a49d73fc5f1b5c46601c06
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| Recent Press (updated April 14, 2010)
Two arrested, 8 others cited on day 7 of furlough sit-in 2 Furlough Friday protesters arrested in governor's office Governor flubbed protest moment (Lee Cataluna) Sit-in at Lingle's office like "Survivor" Protesters hold firm on furlough sit-in KHON2 video: Parents, children stage sit-in protest to end school furloughs |
Welcome
We are concerned Hawaii community members, students, and parents for quality public education. We all agree that it's time to Save Our Schools. Enough is enough: the state budget cannot be balanced on the backs of our teachers and students.
What do we want? Whose side are we on? Why are we targeting Governor Lingle? What about HSTA, the BOE, and the DOE?
We are on the side of the keiki! See our Position Statement.
Furloughs are Over!
Furlough Fridays at Hawaii public schools are a thing of the past. Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday declared that with $57 million from the hurricane relief fund and a $10 million line of credit from local banks, teachers and other school workers will be back on the job five days a week next school year...
The solution consists of a four-point plan:
- $57.2M from Hurricane Relief funds to end public school furloughs
- $2M from ARRA funds for the charter schools (they were not included in the funding bill, specifically).
- 6 days from the teachers giving up more than half of their planning days
- In a surprising move, a coalition of banks in Hawaii offered to make a line of credit for $10M to the State of Hawaii, at zero interest for one or two years.
Full story at the Honolulu advertiser.
See Governor Lingle's press conference here.
May 25, 2010
"Deal Reached to End Hawaii School Furloughs"
Huffington Post (AP Story) [1]
May 19, 2010
A Photo Journey of the
Save Our Schools Movement in Hawaii
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OCT 2009: It began because, on regular school days, students and parents demanded education and walked-in to elementary schools that were shut down because of state budget cuts. We brought knowledge and nourishment to homeless children who had no other choice.
MAR 2010: Yet, the furloughs of our keiki's education continued.
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May 18, 2010
Photos from Last Friday's Teach-In
Final Furlough Friday Teach-In
May 14, 2010
9am-2pm
State Capitol Rotunda</h2>
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April 21, 2010
ACTION ALERT! Ask Rep Say and Sen Hanabusa to Save Our Schools!
Click here to go to policyninja and make your voice heard!
April 14, 2010
A big day. More parents arrested at the capitol.
Lingle must bring parties together for child-focused solution to furloughs (Hawaii Independent)
Save Our Schools on Hawaii Public Radio (MP3)
Furlough sit-in protests continue despite arrests
Gov. Lingle has repeatedly stated that the furloughs weren't her idea. Let's see...
Judge blocks Hawaii furlough plans
Unions take legal action against Lingle's furlough
Sign Our Petition
End Furlough Fridays in Hawaii's Public Schools
In order to make up for budget shortfalls, Hawaii's public schools have taken a large hit. The decision was made that over a two year period, students would be furloughed for 34 days. With this decision, Hawaii now has the lowest number of school days in the nation. So far, there have been 13 Furlough Fridays. This means that students are not in school, learning and getting the quality education they deserve.
Sign our petition here.
Save Our Schools on KSSK Radio
Save Our Schools' Sue Haglund on the KSSK Perry and Price Show.
Full audio here.
Who We Are
I'm willing to get arrested for this issue. It seems so simple to me and I'm frustrated that people are questioning why a bunch of UH students with no kids care about the issue. By that logic, we can assert that Lingle doesn't care about kids either because she doesn't have kids. I want to turn it back on them and say "why don't you care?" because everyone should. Kids can't vote, they can't hold civil disobedience for themselves and dang it, that's not right. That's why I'm here. I know that when I see kids on the street, or in my hubbie's classroom, or on the bus, that I can hold my head high because I'm fighting for them and by fighting for them I'm telling them that they are important. Someone told me I was important when I was their age and that's why I'm the person I am today. They deserve that praise and aloha too.
--Teresa Kessenich-Chase, UH student
Support from Neil Abercrombie
A Governor's responsibility
Read Neil's full statement here
Save Our Schools Letter To Governor Lingle, April 12, 2010
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Save Our Schools Hawaii Dear Governor Lingle, Thank you for your letter dated April 11. For five days we waited for your reply, and have made ourselves available around the clock, despite jobs, school, and families to care for. We will continue to wait, as the deadline looms for the budget. We are disappointed that your letter failed to address our central point: we need an end to furloughs now. We understand that there are difficulties amongst the parties and that is why we have personally met with each of them. It is important to note that HSTA, as a union, does not represent the public, but you, as our governor, represent us. Rather than viewing our actions as an attack, it is an endorsement of your position as a leader. We see you, as the governor, as the leader of this state, and as the one person who has the power to resolve this educational crisis. A solution is already on the table which has been agreed to by all parties except you. The legislature has committed to appropriate the funds. All that remains is your approval. If the process needs to be mediated between the parties, we fully support that decision. We cannot accept this current state of education as an imaginable solution for Hawaii. It should never have been imagined in the first place. While we are hopeful that you are committed to Hawaii's education system, we are deeply saddened that your letter sounds as though you have given up on our public schools. While our schools have room for improvement, there are also many things to celebrate. Our students have entered the best colleges and achieved great successes in their careers. We must love and support our students, teachers, and public education system to improve Hawaii's future. All children deserve a quality primary and secondary education. The kids need to be back in school. Hawaii cannot be known, now internationally, as the state with the lowest number of school days in the nation. Our priority is that we find a way to end the furlough friday crisis now. Please fix it. Respectfully, Save Our Schools Hawaii |
Letter from Governor Lingle
On Sunday, April 11, 2010, Governor Lingle issued a statement through the press in response to Save Our Schools' letter of April 10. Gov. Lingle claims that Save Our Schools is falsely characterizing her efforts, yet she refuses to personally engage parents at the capitol to have a civil discussion and explain her position and listen to ours. Instead she continues to feud with Save Our Schools via press releases.
Gov. Lingle's full statement follows:
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April 11, 2010 Dear Save Our Schools Hawaii: Your April 5, 2010 letter to me is misinformed and falsely characterizes my efforts to return children to the classroom. While I understand your frustration, your letter contains blatant inaccuracies and your publicly-expressed call for action is misdirected. I encourage you to redirect your energy and effort to convincing leaders of the HSTA that successful resolution of the furloughs will not be possible unless they change their publicly stated position that they will no longer negotiate to find a solution to return Hawaii’s children to the I want to address the completely false claim in your letter that I have never attended any negotiations aimed at ending school furloughs. I have been personally involved in school contract discussions since mid-2009, including face-to-face meetings with the former and current leadership of the HSTA, the chairman and various members of the Board of Education, the former and current superintendant of the Department of Education as well as various legislators from both the House and Senate. Some of these meetings were widely covered by the media while others, held as recently as last week, were non-public meetings. I do regret agreeing at one of those meetings to allow the DOE and BOE to determine how they would implement the furloughs they proposed to address the budget restriction they faced because of the state’s historically unprecedented decline in revenue. While you may not be aware that both the original furlough proposal as well as the furlough schedule came from the DOE/BOE, state law is clear that the governor has no authority to furlough or lay off DOE employees. ... |
Stop the Furloughs rally at the capitol, Sunday April 11, 5:30PM
Dear Hawaii Leaders:
Public School Furloughs are an unacceptable way to resolve Hawaii’s budget crisis. Since Wednesday parents, children and supporters have been staging a sit-in at Governor Linda Lingle’s office demanding a commitment to end public school furloughs.
The Governor needs to either lead or get out of the way. The BOE and the HSTA have agreed on a solution and the legislature is willing to fund it. If Governor Lingle is unable to negotiate a furlough resolution acceptable to all parties, then she should simply commit to release any funds appropriated by the legislature to end furloughs.
On Sunday, April 11 at 5:30 PM, Save Our Schools Hawaii will host a celebration in support of the Stop the Furloughs sit in at the state capitol rotunda. Since Wednesday parents, children and supporters have been staging a sit-in at Governor Linda Lingle’s office demanding a commitment to end public school furloughs.
The outpouring of support for the sit-in has been overwhelming, but not everyone can commit to joining the sit-in. On Friday evening they were issued citations for trespass. They were warned that the next step may be arrest.
The celebration at the capitol is an opportunity for everyone in Hawaii who supports quality education to be involved. We call on the parents, aunties and uncles of Hawaii to come out in celebration. We call on the artists, musicians and performers of Hawaii to come out to share their gifts. We call on Hawaii Leaders to show their support. Especially, we call on the teachers and students of Hawaii, those with the most at stake, to come out in support of education. Education is not just a fundamental right, it is also a vital investment in our state’s future.
Finally, we urge anyone who cannot make it to the capitol on Sunday, especially those on the neighbor islands, to instead hold their own events and to post their activities, attendance and pictures on the Save Our Schools-Hawaii facebook group site at:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=164621803289&ref=ts
For more information please contact Liam Skilling at 779-8124.
State sheriffs issue trespassing citations to capitol occupiers
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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 9, 2010
STATE SHERIFFS ISSUE TRESPASSING CITATIONS TO CAPITOL OCCUPIERS
HONOLULU - State sheriffs have issued trespassing citations to seven adults who refused to leave the Governor's office tonight after the office closed for the weekend.
The sheriffs informed the small group who had remained in the reception area of the office that if they did not leave, they would be cited for simple trespass (H.R.S. 708-815).
After the sheriffs gave the individuals time to decide what they would do, approximately six adults and several children left the office. Seven adults chose to stay and each was cited for simple trespass. Those cited were not removed from the office. No children were cited. As of 6:30 p.m., five adults and three children remained in the office.
Claims by the group that first occupied the office on Wednesday that Governor Lingle has not been personally involved in the negotiations to end teacher furloughs are patently false. The Governor has had face-to-face meetings on multiple occasions with the Department of Education, including the previous superintendent and the current superintendent; the Board of Education, including different factions within the board; the Hawai'i State Teachers Union, including the past president and the current president; and various legislators.
The Governor is continuing to work with the DOE and legislators to resolve the furlough issue. However, the HSTA has said it will not continue to negotiate.
The individuals who are making false allegations against the Governor should encourage the HSTA to change its position that it will no longer negotiate to end the school closures.
For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor - Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang Chief of Media Relations Phone: (808) 586-0043
Occupation of Hawaii governor's office demanding end to Furlough Friday crisis goes through the night
The occupation continues, with parents, children and other concerned individuals set up to spend the night in the Governor's office. There is no access in the office to fresh water, toilets and the A/C is has been off since 4:30PM. If we leave we will be denied access to return, so we are staying put and making due.
Parents with children will be leaving the state capitol between 6-6:30AM to take children to school and will be available for interviews; others will be staying throughout the day (and longer) until Governor Lingle agrees to face to face meetings with the BOE, DOE and HSTA to work together to end Hawai'i's shameful school furloughs.
Clare Hanusz 808- 384-9682 for Save Our Schools Hawai'i
Subject: Parents Storm Hawaii Governor's Office Demanding end to Furlough Friday Crisis
PRESS RELEASE Save Our Schools Hawaii April 7, 2010
Parents storm Hawaii governor's office demanding end to Furlough Fridays
Sit in: State Capitol on Wednesday, April 6, at 2:30pm, Hawaii Standard Time
The children of Hawaii have experienced 4-day school weeks since October as a result of Hawaii's Furlough Friday crisis.
Parents, outraged by the Governor's stunning lack of progress on this issue, have stormed her office. For months there has been tit-for-tat demands between the Governor and the Hawaii State Teachers' Union, the DOE and the BOE, with the two sides no closer together year comes to a close. The governor holds the power to release funds in Hawaii, so although the legislature is willing to appropriate funds, no funds can flow to schools without the governor's approval. Parents are outraged that the prospects for next year look like more of the same.
In advance of the April 12 legislative deadline to resolve the $30M difference between the Governor's plan and the BOE/DOE/HSTA, parents have occupied the Governor's office to make two demands:
On April 5, 2010, Save Our Schools Hawaii issued a letter to Governor Lingle demanding that she:
- Be PRESENT yourself (not by proxy) in discussions with the HSTA, BOE and DOE and their negotiators.
- PERSONALLY commit to resolving the difference between your proposal and that of the HSTA/DOE/BOE by the April 12 legislative deadline.
From Clare (from inside the governor's office at 9:19pm on April 7, 2010:
greetings all from the 5th floor of the state capitol.
Olga is lounging, Debbie is snacking, Ali is reading a book on civil rights to our department of public security guard, Marguerite is typing, Theresa is making strategy with Olga the lounge lizard. Jo, our hpu documentary filmmaker is sending a text message, and Raine and Derya are playing cards.
just another night at governor Lingle's office.
we need shift takers to help tomorrow, starting at 7:30 ish. -- PLEASE come if you can and do some time. It's a very comfortable spot we've got here, even without the A/C or bathrooms. We want to have a continual presence until we get an answer from the gov.
Email back your availability, please.
stay tuned....
Our children held hostage
Governor Lingle is using our kids for political gain. Restore instructional days and fully-functional schools NOW. The additional funds to restore instructional days ($30M) are a tiny part of the state budget. What do you think?
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Lingle Furlough Plan Cost: $62 million Strings attached: BoE abolished, superintendent appointed by the governor |
DOE, BOE, HSTA Furlough Plan Cost: $92 million Strings attached: all DoE employees work on furloughs |
Letter to Governor Lingle
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Save Our Schools Hawaii April 5, 2010 Dear Governor Linda Lingle, We are dismayed by your stunning lack of progress on the Furlough Friday crisis. The children of Hawai'i have so far endured 13 Furlough Fridays, and nothing has been accomplished to bring this situation to an end or prevent it from continuing next year. We are members of Save Our Schools Hawaii, a grassroots group formed at the onset of this crisis in an effort to rally a quick end to Furlough Fridays.
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Sit-in at the Governor's office
Are you fed up with Furlough Fridays? If you want to end the furlough days and get our keiki the quality education they deserve, then please join us for an important gathering.
There is a critical deadline coming up on April 12 (Monday) for both the Governor and the HSTA/DOE/BOE to come to an agreement on a dollar amount to end furlough fridays. The deadline is a legislative deadline in order to pass the necessary budget bills to appropriate the monies.
If nothing happens soon, it looks like we will have the SAME SITUATION NEXT YEAR!!!!
While the governor and the HSTA have come closer ($62M vs. $92M), nothing more is happening. In the past two weeks, we've met with the HSTA, BOE, and key legislators, and we will meet with the new Superintendent of the DOE on Wednesday morning. They all seem to be trying, in their own way, to bring an end to this crisis.
What is NOT GENERALLY appreciated, is that the GOVERNOR has NEVER ONCE ATTENDED a negotiation herself. She always sends her assistant Linda Smith, who does not have the authority to make any decisions. We believe that this has ham-strung the "negotiations", and has contributed significantly to its dragging on this long. We are going to her office on Wednesday at 2:30pm to make two demands:
1) Linda Lingle herself be present in discussions with HSTA/DOE/BOE 2) Linda Lingle personally commit to resolving the furlough friday crisis by April 12.
IF YOU ARE MAD ABOUT THE FURLOUGHS PLEASE COME!!!! We need A STRONG SHOWING!!!!
See our Letter to Lingle
Get the Facts forum in support of education and human services
Remember ... YOUR presence == PRESSURE! And our pressure has sparked a flurry of legislative activity, with numerous bills for education. Let's make sure they get it done.
Hear from leading economists about the wisdom of current state budget policy. And APPEAL to save essential services in Hawaii.
Where: State Capitol, auditorium chamber level
When: Wednesday March 10, 2010 10am-11am
Why: To call for a change of course in our state leadership before it's too late. Please come to support public education and essential human services.
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1000 Voices allowed to stay!
Victory! Student posters about furlough Fridays on display at the state Capitol won't have to come down after all. Read the Advertiser story State relents says 1000 Voices display at Hawaii Capitol will remain
Response to breaking news
SOS Hawaii is pleased that the Office of the Governor and the State Comptroller are no longer pursuing removal of the children's artwork and other written expressions from the walls of the Capitol. We hope that Hawaii residents will go to see the "1000 Student Voices" display to judge for themselves whether such a fuss was necessary. The exhibit will run until Feb. 26th. Submissions are still being accepted at www.sos808.org....
Read the entire press release here
1000 Student Voices silenced at state capitol
January 28, 2010
One week after unveiling the "1000 Student Voices about Education" exhibit at the State Capitol, Save Our Schools Hawaii was today ordered by the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to remove the exhibit....
Censorship dispute opens up at Capitol Star Bulletin Story
Anti-furlough art ordered off Capitol walls Video interview in Advertiser
Read the entire press release here
Television ads
January 26, 2010
Tell Governor Lingle how you feel about furlough Fridays! SOS Hawaii, in partnership with Voice For Learning has sponsored two television ads to run this week. Why Lingle? She's the one person who can actually do something to end furloughs herself.
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Furlough Friday #9
 Download Poster |
WHAT: Cookies for Classrooms: A bake sale for education
DATE: January 29, 2010
TIME: 9-11am
PLACE: State Capitol Rotunda
Save Our Schools Hawaii will be partnering with HEM this Friday to rally at the Capitol in protest of the 9th furlough Friday.
- Make YOUR voice heard nationally and locally.
- Let YOUR Legislator know how YOU feel.
- Increase media attention during a very important political week (the National Republican Committee meeting in Waikiki).
- Let the Governor/HSTA/BOE know that this situation is still UNACCEPTABLE!
Keiki are invited to listen to stories read by Wally Amos and help deliver cookies to the Governor. Please see www.hawaiieducationmatters.org for more information. While you're there, please visit the 1000 Student Voices exhibit at the State Capitol, chamber level.
1000 Student Voices campaign
SOS Hawaii is highlighting student voices on Hawaii's furlough Friday crisis.
| 1000 Student Voices Exhibit
On Display at the State Capitol (Chamber level), until Feb. 26 |
 Download Poster |
Wednesday Dec. 20
The 1000 Student Voices briefing took place at the Capitol on opening day. SOS Hawaii presented art, videos and kid testimonies to legislators, staff and the public. Many concerned citizens were riveted to the presentation.
See TV coverage on KHON2
Add your voice HERE
Hear all the voices HERE
See more 1000 Voices videos on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/sos808DOTorg
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 Download Poster |
December 3, 2009
Calling all students! SOS wants to know what you think about furlough fridays... Do they help you learn? We are gathering as many voices as we can to highlight student voices and present them to our government leaders. Add your voice to the "1000 Student Voices About Furlough Fridays" campaign! See some examples here. Read the entire press release here.
Furlough Friday #6
DATE: December 11, 2009
TIME: 9-11 a.m.
PLACE: Manoa Valley Community Center, Recreation Room (free parking available in the lot)
This Friday is the sixth Furlough Friday for Hawaii's keiki. Hawaii students now spend less time in class than the students in any other state. This situation is intolerable; yet without leadership and courage nothing is going to change.
As part of its 1000 Student Voices campaign, Save Our Schools Hawai‘i is hosting a KidsArt/AdultsTalkStory party to mark Furlough Friday # 6. Please join us in honoring our children’s desire to learn and their right to a public education by expressing your opinions through art, by joining a community of engaged and active parents and friends, and learning more about what you can do to end furlough Fridays and improve public education.
As the children create art (from drawings, paintings, songs, poetry, video) to express how they feel about furlough Fridays, the adults will have a facilitated dialogue about the state of public education in Hawai‘i, now and in the future.
Please come out to show your support for keiki, teachers and schools.
1000 Voices: Create to Celebrate
 Download Poster |
In the spirit of the holiday season, Save Our Schools Hawai'i, is encouraging parents and to create "Student Voices" art and wreaths from recycled materials. Students will be invited to creatively express how they feel about public school education and the furlough situation, and what the future of their education means to them.
Come to a public art and craft making event on Friday Dec. 4 (the fifth Furlough Friday) at The Arts at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. Families, community members, and vendors will display the wreaths this month and into January in support of the youth-centered dialogue.
Host a Create to Celebrate Party! Here's how to make your own creations. See submitted creations here.
Recent Furlough Friday news
November 2009
U.S. Asst. Sec of Education visits Hawaii and comments on furlough crisis
HSTA Concerns over governor's plan
House agrees to special session
Feeding Homeless Kids on Furlough Friday
On the fourth "Furlough Friday", S.O.S. Hawaii will organize a community service project to bring food and other essentials to homeless children and their families. For the 1700+ homeless children in Hawaii's public schools, Furlough Friday means that they will miss breakfast and lunch, meals which are normally provided at school through the free lunch program. In addition to meeting educational needs, schools are a safe haven for children experiencing homelessness.
School closures, on Furlough Fridays and other days, mean that most homeless children will be without structured, stimulating, and healthy places to go. S.O.S. Hawaii, in partnership with Hawaii Education Matters,and the School and University Partnership for Educational Renewal in Mathematics (SUPER-M) will provide lunches, books, toys, and basic hygiene items to families experiencing homelessness in the Kakaako Park and Ala Moana area on Friday Nov. 18, from 10am - 1pm.
For more information, contact Terri LaCoursiere Zucchero.
Children's Voices wreath project
Gather your ribbons and recycled materials: bottle caps, toilet paper tubes, old magazines, etc.! And get in the spirit by making a CHILDREN'S VOICES WREATH for your door this upcoming holiday season! Show that you care about Hawaii's keiki and the future of their education Take time with your child to make something together and talk about what matters Express your ideas about supporting charter school and public education with YOUR personal message on the wreath! If you're inspired, take a pic and attach it here or email to us at S.O.S.! We'll gather the pictures of the art to let the legislature, board of education, and governor know that we are watching and anticipating a win-win resolution for all.
If you're really really inspired: Submit your 'ohana's Children's Voices Wreath to Honolulu Hale by Nov. 30 for their wreath contest.
In the spirit of Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Kanu Hawaii Simplify the Holidays Campaign, here are also some ways to make the upcoming holidays a lot easier.
Have a great time! Mahalo nui loa for making our children's voice count! Your dedication and commitment is paying off!
